RoadRunner Auto Transport Reviews: Is It Legit?

RoadRunner Auto Transport is a full-service car shipping company that facilitates car shipping services between customers and contracted carriers. The service stands out by offering military discounts, customizable insurance add-ons, and shipping services for standard cars, trucks, motorcycles, and a wide variety of specialty or oversized vehicles. 

Many customers report efficient, communicative, and satisfactory experiences, while some express frustration over missed dates, price increases, and lack of contact. This could be because your exact price, pickup and delivery dates vary depending on the carrier you’re matched with. 

With 30 years in the business, RoadRunner is a legitimate, trustworthy service with a highly vetted carrier network. We’ll walk you through how it compares to other car shipping companies and whether it’s a good fit for you.

Compared to other car shipping services, RoadRunner Auto Transport has a long history of providing reliable service. It has 30 years of experience and is established as one of the most popular options for vehicle transporting. RoadRunner stands out for providing transport for a wide range of specialty vehicles and heavy-duty equipment. 

Still, it’s worth comparing with other car shipping companies if you’re looking for a guaranteed price, live GPS tracking, or a shorter lead time.

Before we get much deeper into our RoadRunner Auto Transport review, let's make sure it offers the features and services you need.

RoadRunner offers a full suite of auto transport services, here’s a quick look at what it offers:

Trailer types:

• Open
• Closed/enclosed
• Specialty (heavy equipment, oversized, etc.)

Vehicles accepted:

• Cars and trucks
• Motorcycles
• Boats
• Tractors and equipment
• Buses
• Inoperable vehicles
• Modified vehicles (lift kits, roof racks, etc.)

Pick up and delivery options:

• Door to door
• College campus
• Terminal to terminal
• Storage facility pick up
• Auction pick up

Other services:

• Top load
• Military discount
• Seasonal shipping
• Corporate vehicle relocation

In 2025, the average cost to ship a car with RoadRunner is approximately $900 to $1,500. Costs range from about $600 to transport a vehicle one hundred miles in an open carrier to around $2,200 to ship it across the country in a closed carrier.

In general, you can expect to pay $2.30 per mile for open transport and $3.91 per mile for enclosed transport. But that's just the baseline price. As we'll discuss below, other factors can increase the final cost of your RoadRunner bill.

RoadRunner's prices typically hover just below industry averages for open transport. If you're looking for the best price on enclosed transport, you may want to consider another car shipping company because RoadRunner has some of the highest quotes.

RoadRunner’s estimated cost is largely based on distance, vehicle, and time. While that can vary depending on the carriers available in your area, there are some additional fees you may encounter:

• Vehicle size: The size and weight of your vehicle is a large factor in determining the price. The heavier it is and more space it takes up on a transport carrier, the more your service will cost. 
• Vehicle condition: Shipping an inoperable vehicle will add an additional fee between $50 to $200. 
• Transport type: Open transport is the cheaper and more common option, but it does leave your car exposed to the elements. If you’re shipping a classic, exotic, or specialty car you may want to opt for enclosed transport for an additional fee.
• Expedited shipping fees: RoadRunner does offer expedited shipping for an undisclosed additional fee based on time, distance, and carrier availability. 
• Top load: To transport your vehicle on the top of the hauler, it’s typically an additional $100. 
• Extra insurance coverage: If you wish to add gap insurance coverage, there will be an additional fee. 
• Time of year: Some seasons may be cheaper than others to ship your car depending on demand, holidays, and weather. 
• Economic conditions: If fuel prices are high, for example, that will be reflected in your quote. 
• Pickup and delivery locations: Pickups and deliveries near major metro areas, freeways, and easy routes may be cheaper than rural or hard-to-reach locations. 

1. Utilize discounts. RoadRunner offers a military discount that can provide up to $100 off. 
2. Skip extra services. You can keep your price down by skipping upcharge services like top loading or enclosed transport. 
3. Choose convenient locations. Picking a major metro area for your pickup and delivery locations can reduce your quote. 
4. Book your transport early. The earlier you book your service, the more time carriers will have to bid on the job, which can lower your price. 
5. Plan around seasonal highs. Picking a transport date outside of busy seasons, like holidays and snowbird season, may improve your cost.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires a minimum liability insurance of $750,000. RoadRunner complies with this standard, and its carriers use an additional cargo insurance. That coverage is part of the service you pay for and will cover any damage to your vehicle that was a direct result of the carrier’s negligence during transit. For example, if it was loaded or unloaded incorrectly, the straps weren’t secured, or the transport truck was involved in an accident.

RoadRunner’s included coverage does not protect against weather damage, road debris, mechanical failures unrelated to transport, or any personal belongings left in the car. You can opt in for additional supplemental insurance that covers scenarios like environmental exposure, theft, vandalism, etc. 

RoadRunner doesn’t disclose the exact tiers of supplemental coverage nor their price; you’ll have to call for specific quotes and options. 

If your car does arrive with damage, you’ll want to take quick action to make sure you’re properly compensated. Here are some tips to prepare for the worst-case scenario:

• Request the assigned carrier’s legal name and insurance details.
• Photograph the vehicle before pickup.
• Record existing damage on the bill of lading.
• Inspect the vehicle before signing at delivery.
• Note new damage on the delivery document and take photos. 
• Keep photographs, receipts, and written communication.
• Do not sign any document that indicates satisfactory condition or delivery. 
• Follow the current written claim deadline.

RoadRunner Auto Transport doesn’t detail its carrier vetting process, but it claims a highly vetted carrier network with high standards. It disclosed that carriers must have an active USDOT registration, carry compliant cargo insurance, and have a verified reputation. RoadRunner also states it works with specialists who are trained to handle classic cars, exotic cars, and high-value vehicles.

With 30 years of service, RoadRunner is one of the oldest auto transport companies we’ve reviewed. RoadRunner provides its services via carrier drivers and companies. As such, RoadRunner cannot guarantee pickup, delivery, dates, nor your quote. If a carrier falls through, RoadRunner will attempt to pair you with another available carrier. 

Same-day options are possible on a case-by-case basis, largely depending on the availability of carriers near you. You can call RoadRunner directly to book urgent transport and discover what same-day options are available.

The throughline with RoadRunner Auto Transport’s reliability is that it will vary based on the carrier assigned to your service. That’s reflected in their terms, where RoadRunner clearly states all schedules are estimates.

Positive reviewers say the carriers they were matched with were communicative, offered updated tracking, and provided speedy service. 

On the other end, negative RoadRunner reviews spoke of surprise increases in price, poor communication, no contact information for specific carriers, and missed delivery dates. Since RoadRunner is a broker, the customer experience can vary widely depending on the individual carrier you’re paired with. 

Most of RoadRunner’s customer reviews were either 1 star or 5 stars, reflecting two polar opposite experiences you roll the dice on getting.

When we first started researching car shipping companies, we noticed an alarming trend: every brand seemed to have irate customers warning others to never use them. Type any car shipping company into Google and you'll find people complaining about lapses in communication, no-show carriers, surprise price increases, and scratched vehicles. 

Such widespread dissatisfaction seems to suggest that the problem isn't necessarily with the companies themselves, but with the car shipping industry as a whole. Brokers provide a popular service by streamlining the hiring process and allowing multiple carriers to bid on each job, which helps lower the final price. Some brokers offer additional perks like extra insurance coverage and quick access to a back-up plan when a carrier drops the ball, but the fact remains that they're middlemen and have little control over the carriers' schedules or communication skills.

Still, there are companies that successfully deliver cars and customer satisfaction more often than others. It's our job to figure out how they do it and who has the best track record.

If you’ve got a unique or specialty car to ship, RoadRunner Auto Transport is one of the few shipping services that can help make that happen. For military members, you’ll score a much-needed discount as we found RoadRunner typically prices higher than competitors. 

Thirty years in service is an impressive record and testament to long-standing customer satisfaction. However, quotes, dates, and customer service are not guaranteed. So, if you’re flexible on timing and need specialized options, RoadRunner is worth considering.